Saturday Magazine

Nevena and Paul are joined live in the studio by Rachel Payne MLC — Legalise Cannabis Victoria; Matthew Kirwan — Greens;  Michael Galea MLC — Labor, This is a large, diverse upper-house region encompassing 11 lower-house districts, including Dandenong, Frankston, Cranbourne, Berwick, Rowville and the Narre Warren seats. It combines established suburbs, disadvantaged communities and rapidly growing...

Nevena and Paul are joined live on air by Anthony Galloway, Vic Political Editor, The Australian; and Kieran Rooney, State Political Reporter, The Age Anthony Galloway — Victorian Political Editor, The Australian Previously covered foreign affairs and national security for The Age/SMH and was chief political correspondent at Capital Brief . Best used for campaign strategy, leadership, state financ...

Nevena and Paul are joined on air by Ameila Bitsis. Amelia, Executive Director, Policy and Advocacy for the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, she leads complex policy agendas and engages widely across government and industry. Amelia is recognised for her ability to navigate challenging stakeholder environments, build consensus and drive strategic outcomes. The post Sat, 31st, Oct, 2026:...

Victorian Election Special: Prahran – Legislative Assembly (lower house) Rachel Westaway won the February 2025 by-election 51.35%–48.65% against the Greens , a margin of 1.35 percentage points . Liberal and Greens first preferences were separated by just one vote . Labor did not contest that by-election; its return changes the contest substantially. VEC result , ABC electorate guide Dr Megha...

John and Nevena talk to Leo Puglisi about the Australian political round up (Helen Haines, Greens dispute) & Victorian Election Update (Quiet Greenslide?) Puglisi began his media career in 2019, founding what was then initially known as HMV Local News but rebranded in 2020 as 6 News. Puglisi first came to attention in 2020 when he covered the secretive demolition of a bell tower at Hawthorn We...

Nevena and John talk to Josh Taylor from The Guardian. Josh Taylor is a prominent Australian technology journalist currently serving as a technology reporter for Guardian Australia. Based in Melbourne, he covers a broad spectrum of critical tech, policy, and societal issues. Josh’s recent article discusses the dangers facing Australian Music, with Kylie Minogue songs being used to train Ai. Josh d...

Zoe Daniel is a three-time ABC foreign correspondent and former independent member for Goldstein. Zoe spent nearly 30 years as a distinguished reporter and foreign correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). She served as the ABC’s Washington Bureau Chief from 2015 to 2019, extensively covering the rise and presidency of Donald Trump. Her prior postings included assignme...

Nevena and John talk to Michael Nayna, Australian documentary filmmaker, Investigative Journalist; The Millions Behind Australia’s ‘Bottom-Up’ Censorship Bill “As Australia’s new Digital Duty of Care Bill heads to Parliament, liber-net CEO Andrew Lowenthal and I dug into the PR campaign behind it. What we found might be one of the strangest pieces of political theatre in re...

Joining us live on air  this morning is Felix Ralph, a leading criminal defence lawyer from law firm Marshall Jovanovska Ralph. As the federal parliament pushes forward with major reforms to the Online Safety Act—including the introduction of a statutory ‘Digital Duty of Care’ for social media platforms—Felix is here to unpack what these legislative shifts mean for corporate liability, digital fre...

What is Australia’s favourite Aussie book? Nevena and John discuss the ABC’s 100 Best Aussie Books https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radionational/countdown/top100books/1-100 The post Sat, 24th, October, 2025: What is Australia’s favourite Aussie book? ABC’s 100 Best Aussie Books. appeared first on Saturday Magazine .

Nevena Spirovska and John Safran discuss the week that was and what’s coming up in this week’s programme. The post Sat, 24th, October, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up Nevena Spirovska and John Safran appeared first on Saturday Magazine .

  Running as an independent in traditionally “safe” seats, local community priorities in Malvern, housing/heritage balance, crime, climate, and integrity in state politics Small business owner, building designer, and educator. She lives locally in Malvern East. Zigouras has previously run as a member of Labor and of the Greens for other seats. Running as an Independent for the sea...

Kenny and Macca are joined live on air by Rachel Westaway MP (Member for Prahran, Shadow Assistant Minister for Tourism, Hospitality & Major Events, and Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition [Metropolitan]) Parliamentary Record: Won the state seat of Prahran for the Liberal Party at the February 2025 by-election. Prahran—covering South Yarra, Prahran, and Windsor—is an inne...

Macca and Kenny are joined live on air by Joe Ball (he/him), Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities. Joe is currently the  Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities. He is a proud transgender man and long-time community advocate, previously serving as CEO of Switchboard Victoria. Advocates for the rights and needs of LGBTIQA+ Victorians across state government policy, programs, and...

The shifting landscape for political independents, lessons from the 1997 turning point, and grassroots community energy today. Susan Won the seat of Gippsland West as a progressive Independent in a historic 1997 by-election, interrupting Jeff Kennett’s formidable coalition government. She was re-elected in 1999 and held the balance of power alongside fellow country independents Craig Ingram and Ru...

Dr. Ryan recently led calls against proposed government cuts to private health insurance rebates affecting older Australians, commissioning Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) analysis showing that rebate reductions would hit low-income pensioners hardest. Everyone apart from the government hates this bill. The Senate rejected it on Wednesday, health minister Mark Butler is reintroducing it unchange...

Macca and Kenny are in the hosting seats this big week Editor and Executive Director of The Conversation Australia and New Zealand , an independent, non-profit news and analysis outlet where academic experts write directly for the public. An exploration of AI voice technology and audiobooks. As synthetic, AI-generated voices become routine, researchers are analysing why listeners feel alienated wh...

Macca and Paul are joined live on air by Annitta Macauley,  who is the Social Support, Events & Diversity Manager at Lifeview. Before Lifeview, Annitta worked in disability for 18-years. She started at Lifeview as a Social Support Assistant and then was promoted to Social Support Coordinator. In 2019, she became the Social Support and Events Manager. Annitta has a Diploma in Business Administr...

Paul and Macca are joined live on air and in the studio by Adam Brackman, VPC Volunteer Program, Volunteering at the VPC Adam is a seasoned executive consultant with a wealth of experience in IT solutions and transformational change programs, having worked across both the government and private sectors in the US, Singapore and Australia. With a career spanning several decades, Adam has been instru...

Paul and Macca are joined live on air by The Hon Peter Khalil MP is the Federal Member for Wills and the Assistant Minister for Defence. First elected in 2016 and representing the Australian Labor Party, his electorate includes northern Melbourne suburbs like Brunswick, Coburg, and Pascoe Vale. The Hon. Peter Khalil MP is the Assistant Minister for Defence and the Federal Member for Wills. Peter w...

Paul  and Macca are joined live on air byJames Newbury, MP Brighton & Shadow / Att Gen / Min Equality / Anti Corruption; as they discuss Vicarious Liability Legislation, Net Zero, Sussan Ley, Melbourne Crime and State deficit Shortfall. Before entering Parliament, James worked in both the private sector and the public sector. In the private sector, as a Group Company Secretary in the financial...

Macca and Paul talk to : David Gibson, Chair GRAI in Perth, Fmr Army Captain, Dismissed for from ADF for his Sexuality. The Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation) Bill 2026, introduced by Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh, will enable eligible Defence personnel convicted solely on the basis of consensual homosexual activity to apply to have those convictions extinguished...

Paul and Macca are joined live on air by Kieran Rooney State politics reporter at the The Age. 2002 Best and Fairest for Padua College Year 6 E-Grade cricket. https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/deal-or-no-deal-how-the-major-parties-are-tackling-the-minority-government-risk-20261010-p6140z.html h ttps://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/one-nation-s-promise-to-repair-victoria-s-finances-...

Mew data shows Mpox cases are on the rise locally, with 52 cases reported statewide since August 1 alone. While the virus continues to circulate globally, localised findings reveal a dramatic difference in how severely it impacts people based on their vaccination status. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is Professor Rhonda Stuart, Director of Public Health and Infection Prevention at Monash H...

Earlier this week, the Australian Greens announced a major shift in their parliamentary leadership, electing Victorian Senator Steph Hodgins-May as the party’s new Federal Deputy Leader alongside leader David Shoebridge. A former environmental lawyer and long-time advocate for progressive reform, Senator Hodgins-May joins us to talk about her vision for the Greens in Canberra. Steph, welcome to JO...